Badriatu Turay - Life of an Election Observer

03/10/2025

Congratulations my dear Vickie Remoe
I am super proud of you🙌🙏😍

Never forget, that Allah is working in you, through you and for you!

Yesterday, after I published our list of Sierra Leonean women in media and marketing to know in 2025, many people suggested that I should have included myself.

While I could have added my name, my goal was to uplift and amplify others.

A candle does not lose its light when it lights another.

As I focused on shining a light on others, I had no idea I would also receive recognition.

This morning, I discovered that I have been named one of Africa’s most impactful voices for 2025.

I am the only Sierra Leonean on the list.

About The 100 Most Impactful Voices List

The 100 Most Impactful Voices List celebrates women using digital platforms, technology, and storytelling to drive meaningful change. These women are shaping Africa’s future—one conversation at a time—through their contributions to business, education, culture, and activism.

We Rise By Lifting Others is more than a wise adage; for me, it's a way of life.

Check out the full list which includes Chimamanda Ngozie Adiche, Simply Sayo and many others across the continent and the African Diaspora.

https://100voices.abcdafrica.co






Thank you ABCD Africa

03/10/2025

With Hamza4SL – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

02/27/2025

At the two-day regional dialogue on advancing transformative gender social norms to enhance women’s and youth’s participation and representation in leadership and decision-making across the ECOWAS and Sahel regions held in Dakar, Senegal, I shared my experience working as an election observer and highlighted the challenges I faced in the course of my work, including intimidation, and how I overcame them.

The aim is to debunk those barriers that limit our participation in politics and leadership roles as women and youth in our communities.

Thanks to International IDEA for bringing together 30 inspiring leaders across Africa in this exchange learning initiative.
European Union
U.S. Embassy Freetown, Sierra Leone
Young Women in Democracy Forum
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders

11/01/2024

The launch of the Network of Female Councilors (NFC) in Sierra Leone is a significant milestone that underscores the importance of women's representation at the local level. It highlights efforts to empower women and address gender disparities in political leadership. The initiative aims to inspire more women to participate in local decision-making, promote gender equality, and ensure that women's voices are heard in community affairs.

Thanks to Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) for this laudable initiative.

Key takeaways;
▪️"Female Councilors are brought together to unite voices across the country. Voices that will talk about local women's development." Marcella Macauley - Executive Director - CGG

▪️"If we want to support women issues, we all should work together and put our political parties differences aside." Minister Isata Mahoi Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs-SL

▪️"This network is a ground breaking network... It's a new beginning that actually give women the strength that local government needs in those localities" Minister Tamba John Sylvernus Lamina

10/31/2024

It was a pleasure joining Campaign for Good Governance and partners to engage with Parliamentarian Female Caucus to have their support on the integration of women’s priority issues into the revised 1991 Constitution. The Sierra Leone Women’s Communique was presented to the Caucus by the Minister of Gender Isata Mahoi - Ministry of Gender and Children's Affairs-SL which captures recommendations from the Cowan-led Constitutional Review Committee (CRC) report that focuses on securing women’s role in decision-making.

10/15/2024

There was no better way to celebrate the international day of the girl child than engaging with our young girls and boys on public speaking for girls' career and mentorship. It was an enriching conversation on women's career in politics and elections.

As part of my Mandela Washington journey, I am passionate about seeing women's meaningful participation in politics and elections.

Women's political participation is not only a matter of equality but also essential for fostering more responsive, accountable, and effective governance. It enriches political discourse, drives comprehensive policy reforms, and promotes a more just and prosperous society.

In order to achieve this, catching them young is the way to go. Thanks to Patriotic Advocacy Network Sierra Leone for a laudable initiative. It's always exciting sharing my experience and expertise in such platforms.

U.S. Embassy Freetown, Sierra Leone

10/13/2024

10/13/2024

10/04/2024

Badriatu Turay has over 6 years of experience in the field of election observation and governance. Currently, Badriatu is the Quality Assurance and Accreditation Officer of National Election Watch (NEW) - Sierra Leone, focusing on strengthening democracy through election observation, monitoring the fairness, transparency and credibility of public elections and citizens engagement on good governance. NEW is the largest citizens election observation outfit; a coalition of over 450 civil society organizations in Sierra Leone.

Prior to her current position, Badriatu has served as an Assistant Project Officer for over 2 years at NEW, coordinating project implementation across the 16 districts in the 5 regions of Sierra Leone. She has in recent time (2023), acted as National Coordinator of the coalition for a period of 6 months. Badriatu is also the National Coordinator of Young Women in Democracy Forum, a coalition of young women organization across the country, which aims at amplifying issues affecting women especially around political participation. She has worked as a volunteer at the National Commission for Democracy (NCD) in her early days of her career. Badriatu as one of the election practitioners in Sierra Leone, has not only engaged in election observation in Sierra Leone but other countries in the Western, Eastern and Southern sub regions of Africa.

Badriatu holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. Badriatu is motivated to champion electoral education to enhance women’s meaningful participation in politics.

Badriatu was placed in the Public Management track at Syracuse University, New York. Upon completion of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, for Young Leaders, Badriatu intends to use her experience and skills acquired in the Fellowship to work around enhancing women’s meaningful political participation through electoral education. Badriatu believes that, women’s meaningful participation as both candidates and voters can be achieved through the understanding of electoral processes and legal frameworks.
League of Women Voters of the US
New York State Senate
City of Syracuse - Office of the Mayor
U.S. Department of State